Book of Glory II

Vine and Branches

There are many interpretations of whom or what the branches and fruits symbolize. The disciples would recall the many prophets who likened Israel to a vine that was barren and that stole the sap of life from the branches that had potential to produce fruit. William Barclay, John MacArthur and others suggest Jesus is referring to Judas, the Jews who refused to accept Christ, and/or those whose faith consists “of profession without practice, words without deeds” (Barclay, The Gospel of John).

St. Cyril of Alexandria indicates that the dead branches symbolize our sin and weakness;

“From Christ and in Christ, we have been reborn through the Spirit in order to bear the fruit of life; not the fruit of our old, sinful life but the fruit of a new life founded upon our faith in him and our love for him.”

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible suggests that the parable is Eucharistic in nature. The passage itself lends to the interpretation that the fruits produced include the ministry, mission, and miraculous healings which true followers will bring about.

According to Barclay, new branches in a vineyard are cut back drastically during their first three years, so that they can conserve life and energy. They thereby become stronger and more fruitful at a future time. Spiritual maturation takes time and patience; excessive attention and diligence on the part of the vinedresser.

Like Christ’s incarnation, a vineyard is planted and nurtured intentionally. The Vinedresser is busy pruning and such, however, the Vine is passive in that it carries the life sap needed for growth, but it does not discern for itself where to send the sap. Likewise, the branches are passive and can do nothing to bring about the fruit. They simply exist as a part of a larger process which they know nothing about.

This is, therefore, not a lesson on sin, false disciples, or ministry, but a gospel which advocates doing nothing apart from surrendering and abiding in Christ. He is instructing the disciples on such acceptance of outside forces and meekness with full knowledge that He will crucified within a day. Jesus did indeed do nothing to save Himself in the face of His death. He actively chose to allow the life-saving sap of the Father’s will to flow through Him for the benefit of us branches.

Because Jesus sent the Paraclete to us, the fruits of the vine include the Fruits of the Holy Spirit; charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity. These gifts are needed for loving relationships with others, and give us the tools to obey Jesus’ law of love. The idea of laying down one’s life seems like a grand gesture involving death, however we “lay down” our lives each time we put aside our own interests and needs to reach out to others.

The New Jerome Biblical Commentary says “this brings vine imagery into the “indwelling language” of the farewell discourses.” Jesus is the vine regardless of our interpretation of the symbolism of the branches and fruit. He is the connection between branches, thereby linking individuals, peoples and ministries. This parable makes the dependency that we have on Christ for life within the vineyard unquestionable. Life within the vineyard is only possible because of the existence of the vine, of Christ.

How do we know who dwells within the vineyard? If a branch belongs to another Vinedresser do we interact with that branch differently? The branches do not know what fellow branches belong to His own Vinedresser; they only know their vine, and the strength of the sap flowing into them. By obeying Christ’s law of love, using the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, we are responding to His life-giving love within others in a way that honors our intimacy with Him.

Journal Questions:

What is your particular ministry? How do you know that it is the Lord’s will?
How do you balance tolerance and acceptance of those who don’t believe in an indwelling Christ with your understanding that He does do so?

Writing Exercise:

Identify a situation in your life in which you limited your efforts or activities to conserve life and energy. Concentrate on the result of such pruning, and the fruit that eventually developed.

Creative Arts:

Fabric art- Develop a piece involving vines and branches.

Paper art- Make a piece of any sort, then cut the art into two or more fragments and use those parts in some new work.

Home arts- Think of the various activities you are involved in; where’s the dead wood, what activities need to be cut or limited to become stronger? What is your particular ministry? Create an “action plan” with a mind to strengthening those efforts that may lead to greater fruit.

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